Anyone will tell you that the best part of working in advertising is the ability to pair creative musings with strategic planning. This medley of creative strategy is what initially sparked my interest in the agency world. From a community management standpoint, each brand is like a new friend—each with it’s own likes and dislikes, background, and dreams.

Here at HZ, we find inspiration for our day-to-day from all sorts of places. Some enjoy cooking, some turn to sick beats and spoken word, while others find inspiration in fresh ink. My muse is Instagram, and here’s why:

The Litmus Test

One of the best things about using a social platform for yourself is the ability to test various tactics in a safe environment without putting a client’s community at risk. Sure, not every tactic that is successful for me personally will work for a brand and vice-versa, but I’d like to think of it as a good litmus test. A recent shift that a number of Instagram influencers have taken is from using very light copy to having more of a narrative with each photo. @1924US is a champion at storytelling on this platform, and each photo boasts an impressive engagement rate with the 159K following. Staying in touch with what people are doing on Instagram helps to guide a brand’s strategy in this space. After all, a brand must be able to insert itself authentically into the target market’s social feed.

Aesthetics Reign Supreme

To fuel my creative side, I turn to Instagram accounts that have mastered the art of a unified aesthetic. A strong Instagram account sticks to a specific POV and image style. This is a natural pairing with a brand that must also adhere to a consistent look and feel. I love challenging myself to stick to a particular theme and find my personal brand’s aesthetic, then replicating that same process for clients. My two favorite examples of this are @AmyVentures (seen above) & @MilkStachio (with many others populating my feed).

Feel free to follow me in my advertising adventures, @mus_ings__crav_ings. What inspires you in your day-to-day jobs? Share with us @HZDG!